Yahoo Lifestyle Maggie Smith Wants To Leave Downton Abbey
Maggie Smith on Downton Abbey
Dame Maggie Smith has revealed that the sixth season of Downton Abbey might be her last. But the reason isn't quite what you think. Far from being tired of the upstairs, downstairs television show, Smith, 80, has simply done her maths and believes that her character, the Dowager Countess Grantham, is just far too old.
“I certainly can’t keep going," Smith told the Sunday Times. "To my knowledge, [on the series] I must be 110 by now."
But it's not just the dowager who might be calling it quits. Smith hinted that the sixth season could see the end of the show entirely. "They say this is the last one, and I can't see how it could go on," Smith said.
Even if the series were to continue without Smith’s character, her absence would be felt. The actress has won two Emmys and a Golden Globe for her role as the show’s acerbic and fiercely loyal matriarch.
Despite all of the success, the actress has found that being on the hit period drama has had its challenges. “One isn’t safe after doing Downton. What’s sad is I’ve gone through my whole life without any of that," she said. "I could go round galleries and things on my own and I just can’t do it now. If someone decides to get at you, you can’t get away."
Season 5 of Downton Abbey will air on Channel 7 this year.Season 6 is currently filming in the UK.
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